Real-Time, Pipeline Developer
This document outlines a job description (JD) for a pipeline developer who is able to help sustain R&D efforts in the Real-Time group, and eventually transition prototypes into fully fledged workflows with pipeline integration.
Role Description
We are looking for a skilled software developer to join our real-time asset pipeline team, focusing on the production of real-time 3D assets backed by OpenUSD. This role involves developing and maintaining tools that empower artists and streamlining asset workflows with evolving requirements.
An ideal candidate will have a background in either VFX asset pipelines that used OpenUSD and/or a strong foundation in computer graphics.
Key Qualifications
- Proficiency in Python with good habits around style, documentation and testing
- Experience with OpenUSD and its Python or C++ APIs
- An understanding of OpenUSD composition concepts (LIVRPs)
- Familiarity with real-time asset performance constraints
- Hands on experience with Autodesk Maya in a production environment, or an equivalent DCC
- Experience building user interfaces and tools
- Strong communication skills with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional partners, including artists, producers, and fellow developers
- Experience gathering and incorporating feedback from artists to improve tool and workflow adoption
- Knowledge of version control systems (Git) and collaborative development practices
Nice to haves
- Experience building user interfaces with Qt/PySide/PyQt
- Experience with other scene description file formats, like glTF
- Solid grasp of OpenUSD’s extensible frameworks, like schemas, plug-ins, and shader definitions
- Experience with GPU-ready texture compression formats such as KTX, or AVIF, and understanding of their encoding schemes and trade-offs
- Knowledge of shading languages and material frameworks such as MaterialX, GLSL, OSL (Open Shading Language), or Metal Shading Language
- Experience with real-time 3D engines or game development pipelines
- Familiarity with other DCC applications (Houdini, Blender, etc.)
- Understanding of asset management systems and production pipelines
- A deep understanding of an area of computer graphics, like mesh rendering (sorting, UV mapping, decimation, LODs), textures (compression, color space, mipmapping), physically based rendering, deformation (LBS, morph targets) or animation
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain tools for the 3D asset production pipeline
- Implement USD-centric workflows and automation tooling
- Optimize 3D assets for real-time performance, including mesh data, texture compression and material complexity
- Create intuitive user interfaces with Qt for artist-facing tools
- Collaborate with artists to understand workflow requirements and pain points
- Debug and optimize existing pipeline infrastructure
- Document tooling and workflows for teams to use and developers to contribute use the document tooling and workflows.
Hours may fluctuate based on project needs.
